Construction Waste Reduction Through BIM-Based Site Management Approach
4. Building Information Modelling
One of the dynamic sectors where technological developments are put into practice as quickly as possible is undoubtedly the construction sector, although it is still slow compared to some sectors where industrialized production is carried out. The results of the race to follow innovations in order to make a difference in the competitive conditions of the world are followed with interest in architecture and construction world. BIM is one of the technological developments that have been increasingly seen in the recent years in the acceleration of adoption by construction project stakeholders, which are closely related to the construction industry. As the most comprehensive of the existing conditions, BIM can be thought of as a new project management concept that allows all participants to simulate all aspects of a construction project in a digital environment and share data on a single model.
A. Definition of BIM
Some of the definitions of BIM encountered in the literature survey conducted within the scope of this paper are as follows:
BIM is a modeling technology that integrates all the processes (design, manufacturing, communication, analysis, etc.) involved in the life cycle of structures and inseparably interrelated [34].
BIM is a parametric component-based, three-dimensional reference structure modeling system created using file formats that allow all disciplines involved in the project life cycle to exchange their data. In the broader context, BIM is a new approach to design and construction beyond modeling [35].
BIM is a system that allows visualization of the entire process from the construction of a building to its physical construction [36].
Beyond being a software, technology and / or tool, BIM is the whole set of processes in which all data defining the life cycle of a building is produced and managed. The 'master builder' designation, which indicates that architects have assumed all responsibility for the structure in the ancient times, evolved as a 'master of digital architecture' for BIM in today's design and construction World [37].
BIM is a complex form of management of social and technical resources that make sense of the concepts of complexity, cooperation and interrelation, which are the most important actors of today's building world. The focus of this management system is to locate the right
information at the right time and in the right place [38].
BIM is a vehicle that continues to develop rapidly in the construction sector and is used in the construction of healthy communication among all project stakeholders and continues to develop in the construction sector [39].
According to the definitions obtained as a result of the literature survey, BIM in its comprehensive form; is an interdisciplinary point of view designed to shorten the standard of the architectural and construction sector in the short term, designed to maximize the organizational scheme at the highest level, redefining the content of the project participants’ definition and meeting the users’ requirements at every level of the project life cycle and at every level of detail.
B. Building Life Cycle and BIM Usage
One of the most important differences of BIM's existing technologies in the design and construction sector is that it has a potential to accommodate all participants and processes involved in the project life cycle [40], not a single discipline or process. It is believed that BIM, which is thought to have an infrastructure that can be used efficiently during the pre-design feasibility stage and post-construction operation and maintenance processes, is adapted to the successive progressive and chain reaction characteristics of all stages constituting the project life cycle.
It is foreseen that the area in which the technology can be used throughout the life cycle of the project must be well determined so that the value added of the BIM can meet the expectations of the employer and the contractor. In Figure 1, the project is divided into four sections as planning, design, construction and operation in the BIM utilization chart, which is produced by Penn State University Computer Integrated Research Program, interviews with leading names of the construction industry, Process, the components for which BIM can be used, the order of distribution of these components in terms of phases, and the use of BIM [41].
Fig. 1. Use of BIM throughout the project life cycle [41].
139 5. Previous Researches Related to Construction
Waste Prevention/Reduction by Bim-Based Construction Site
Through a thorough review of literature, it was revealed that there are various studies that relate to BIM in construction activities but limited studies that relate to BIM-based construction site management (BCSM).
A literature searches for the last ten years -from 2007 to (February)2017- was conducted using the key words;
Building Information Modeling (BIM), Construction Site Layout Planning (CSLP), Construction Site Waste Management (CSWM), Construction Waste Management (CWM), and Construction Waste Reduction (CWR). This part of the study is an integrative review that seeks to answer the following research questions:
Q1. Does BCSM help to reduce/minimize construction waste?
Q2. What features of BIM could be used to prevent/reduce construction waste on site?
Q3. What are the benefits of using BCSM to reduce construction waste? 43, 44, 45, 46, 47] that detailed BIM-Based Construction Site Management for C&D Waste Prevention/Reduction. The answers to the questions asked in this section were derived from the limited studies consulted and they are discussed to include the following:
Q1. Does BCSM help to reduce/minimise construction waste?
Lu et al. [42] shared the aspect of The UK's Construction 2025 Strategy. As part of the strategy, it was revealed that
“BIM has the potential to reduce/minimise construction waste during design and construction stages of projects”.
According to Lu et al. [42], many professionals in the industry, such as architects, engineers and surveyors, take this a step further by considering BIM to be a major actor in the battle against construction waste. The rhetoric tries to show the potential benefits of BIM, such as clash detection and on-site coordination. Partly owing to these potential benefits, BIM has been advocated as a solution to CWM. It provides virtual and computational environment to ponder on assorted design posibilities and construction schemes, with a view to minimizing waste before it is generated on site.
Won et al. [43] also postulated BIM as an effective means to reduce the amount of C&D waste through improving the quality and accuracy of design and construction, and minimising design errors, rework, and unexpected changes. It is a possible solution for eliminating the major causes of construction waste that arise during both the design and construction stages.
According to Cheng et al. [44], people have tried and succeeded in using BIM to reduce improper design, residues of raw materials, unexpected changes in building design and improve procurement, site planning, and material handling in construction management.
Ahankoob et al. [45] stated that a relatively new methodology which people in the construction industry are using to minimise the generation of waste in the design and pre-construction phase is the use of BIM.
Ahankoob et al. [45] and Rajendran and Gomez [46]
introduced the potential use of BIM technology to minimize construction waste, but these efforts were limited to the design phase and did not discuss the specific methods to utilize BIM for C&D waste minimization. However, the study did not propose specific methods to minimize and manage C&D waste.
Furthermore, the UK Construction 2025 Strategy recognised that BIM has the potential to reduce construction waste during design and construction stages [48].
Unfortunately, no efforts have been made to develop BIM aided CWM design decision making tools and methodologies to date. Also, there is inadequate research on the development and review of tools and methodologies that use BIM to support CWM decision making during the design phase of projects. Additionally, there are no research attempts to relate the use of BIM to construction waste causes [47].
Q2. What features of BIM could be used to prevent/reduce construction waste on site?
Lu et al. [42] described the potential benefits of BIM, such as clash detection and on-site coordination, with the assumption that they will automatically become a reality.
BIM is a potential tool that can be utilized in a virtual computational environment within which designers and contractors can employ different design and construction options with a view to minimizing construction waste.
According to Won et al. [43], the uses of BIM like validation of designs, quantity take-off, phase planning, site utilization planning, amongst others were proposed for the reduction of construction waste. BIM can also enable us to minimize the amount of C&D waste by improving quality and accuracy of design and construction, thereby reducing design errors, rework, and unexpected changes. Use of BIM can reduce improper design, residues of raw materials, and unexpected changes in building design and improve procurement, site planning and material handling in construction management.
Ahankoob et al. [45] listed the basic BIM solutions for waste reduction to include conflict, interference and collision detection, construction sequencing and construction planning, reducing rework, synchronizing design and site layout, detection of errors and omissions (clash detection) and precise quantity take-off.
Q3. What are the benefits of using BCSM to reduce construction waste?
BIM provides a level ground for less expensive, virtual,
140 graphical, and computational environment to enable
stakeholders deliberate on various design options and construction schemes, which have a significant impact on construction waste minimization [42]. It is stated in Lu et al.’s [42, pp.589], study that “A less than well-thought-out construction scheme may cause problems in the delivery of a project, including excessive construction waste generation.
BIM allows modelling of entire construction process and prior accounting of the waste-generation risks of alternative strategies. With detailed 3D models of buildings in the BIM component library, it is a 3D model of a construction project can be generated rapidly. Waste generation can be computed instantaneously and presented graphically on a dashboard along with other project performance metrics”.
Consequently, validation of designs can minimize the amount of waste generated on site since such wastes are sites, nevertheless, as the digital representation of a physical facility, BIM itself cannot manipulate information to allow informed decision-making for CWM; and for this purpose, it relies on algorithms [42]. Lu et al. [42], Ahankoob et al. [45], Rajendran and Gomez [46] and Liu et al. [47] introduced the potential use of BIM technology to minimize construction waste, but these efforts were limited to the design phase and did not discuss the specific methods to utilize BIM for C&D waste minimization.
Q5. What are the current applications of BCSM to reduce construction waste?
Lu et al. [42] cited Porwal and Hewage’s [49] paper which they conducted a BIM-enabled analysis to minimize the waste rate of structural reinforcement. BIM was selected as the hub for communicating project information among the various design teams. The findings from the study revealed that construction waste generation can be determined at both the design and construction stages of projects, and this could be achieved by developing a system dynamics (SD) model to estimate waste generation in relation to different design and construction combinations [42].
According to Lu et al. [42, pp.589] “neither commercial BIM solutions nor academic studies have sufficiently extended BIM to perform CWM, despite widespread calls to do so”. Moreover, there has not been any technique or tool available that explores BIM as a platform to reduce C&D waste [44].
6. Conclusion
In this study, the articles that deal with the relationship between BIM technology and construction waste management practices were examined in detail. The methods investigated the use of BIM technology related to
construction waste reduction on construction sites. This study only focused on the construction process, however, design and post-production phases that are located in the project life cycle were excluded.
The common idea that emerges in all the articles examined is that BIM technology is a technological development that can be very useful in construction waste management.
However, the study did not find any existing BIM based site management laid down procedures to construction waste reduction. This is mainly due to the fact that BIM is an emerging technology, and it is thought that the plug-ins to support construction waste management have not been developed yet.
It is envisaged that the construction waste that is generated consciously and / or unconsciously during the construction process can be minimized by the possibilities of technology.
At this point, it is thought that BIM technology, which can create the whole project on the digital interface, can be utilized with a systemic approach.
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